6 Cuban cigar humidors go for $1.1 million at Havana festival

The hot item was a one-of-a-kind handcrafted humidor packed with Montecristo cigars that fetched (euro)170,000 ($235,000).

Welsh crooner Tom Jones was among the invitees at Saturday’s auction and sang three songs for attending guests, including his signature “It’s Not Unusual.”

The most expensive Cuban cigars, currently the Cohiba Behike, can cost upward of (euro)50 ($69) each in Europe and Canada.

Officials said this week that sales of Cuban cigars rose 8 per cent last year, despite increasing anti-smoking measures around the world, continued recession fears in Europe and the U.S. embargo which bars Americans from purchasing island-made stogies.

While Europe remains the top market for Cuban cigar brands, sales in Asian nations including China are growing.

Proceeds from the auction were to go to Cuba’s state-run health-care system.